Grain-cleaning machine



Feb. 13, 1923.

1,445,069; A V CLELAND I I GRAIN CLEANING MACHINE.

FILED AUG l, i921 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 4/ I/v VEA/TOR ndrew l( Cle/@Hq1 Ff@ By m M 'I /V/'Is /777`orneyc 8 ya .3 3 6 4 Y. 4 o@ l I 4 Feb. 13, 1923.

A. V. CLELAND. GRAIN CLEANING MACHINE.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- FILED AUG- l, 1921..

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Patented heb. ld, 1923.

ANDREW V. CLELAND, Ol?y MINNEAPOLS, MNESOTA. y

enerncnnemNGMAcHINn Appneation fuga August i, 1,921. serial Nunca-902'.' Y

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW V. CLELAND, a citizen of the United States, residentY ot Minneapolis, county of AHennepin7 State oi Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Grain-Cleaning Machines, ot which the following is a specifi-y cation.

The primary object of my invention is to means for handling' the repeat orreturn,` so callefh s1ib}ect1ng` it a second time to the' air suction, with provision for distributing it evenly over the sleves without possibility ot flooding due to variation in conditions oiE the grain.-

fr. Vfurther object is to provide a machine et the type described, in'whieh 'fewer adjustments are provided, thus simplifying the operation and care of the machine, thel adjustments being;v such that the volume ot air iliassing;I through the discharge pipe can not be reduced but will be uniform andcontinuous, thus preventing clogging` of the discharge pipe.

A further object is to provide a machine ot the type described, in which all wearing parts are easily accessible and removable for repair or replacement. rl`he surfaces in a grain cleaning machine being' exposed to contact of the grain carried along by the air blast, considerable replacement and repair are frequently necessary, hence the ineans ot convenient access and removal.

The invention consists generally in vari` through grain cleaning machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is anienlarged dust duct or passage,

Figurey 3 is a, detail sectional view on the line 3 5 of lligureI 2, y l j vFigure 4- is a detail sectional view, on the line 4 4 of FigureQ, 'y i' Figure is an outside view of Figure 4,"

showing the means for roperating the shutter blades,` A `v c Figure 6 illustrates the mannerof mount-4 insta i y y y dean jviewpf a portion of thev hopper and the rt'emovable entreTFCE;

ing the dust duct or passage inthe machine casing,

Figure 74v a horizontal ysectional View,

showing the manner oiiclamping the sections composiug'y the dust', du'cttogether.

1n the drawing, 2 represents a grain hopper, to which `the grain' to be cleaned or separated is -fied by la suitable means, `not shown. 3 is a -repeat'hoppen separated'from the hopper 2 by a'ii'te'd partition or wall fl. In the lower portion of the'hopper is a feed opening or throat 5,l which communicates with b'oth the hopper-s 2 and 3 and receives the 'grain theretronil l A divisin board Gis hinged at 7 to the lower end of the wall 4? and loperates as a means for distributing the material 1n thehopper -3 over its full'widtli,

Vtheboznd swinging back and forth across the throat and-Increasing or. .decreasing` the size of the opening leading fromthe hopper,v according to itsposition'ftherein, t,

A screw 8 is'p'rovided for adjusting' the division board in thehoppen A feed roll 9 is provided beneath l'the throat `5 and over which the material flowsfrom the hopper to the bankoiisieves beneath. A feed lplate 114 is hinged at 12 abovethe feed roll and is provided with an arm 13, pivotally'connected with the rod 15'by rmeans of `which the :feed platemay be oscillated to increase or decrease the distance betweenfits'lower edge and the feed roller and regulatev the volume of grain passing over the i'eed roller.

bovethe teedjroller is a box lo formed in the casingv land open at the top, but 'nor`` mally closed by thefitrame 17 in which a series ot'shutter blades 18 'are mounted and adjustable'on a longitudinal axis by mea-.us

of cranks 19 and a connecting barfQ() in" a vao manner similar to the construction and operation of an ordinary rocking window blind. By means of these shutter blades 'the operator or' the machine can regulate the admission of air to the box 16 and whenever desired, the trame 1'? may be removed to entirely expose the open top of the box.

l/Vithin the box l arrange a removable dust duct or passage made, up preferably in sections, consisting of blocks 2l, 22 and 23, alternating with sheet metal walls 24 and 25 and secured together through` said blocks and walls by suitable means, such as rods 26. The arrangement ot these blocks and sheet metal plates provides a dust duct 27 whichcommunicates at itsv lower end with the throat 5 above the feed roll and this duct extends vertically to the upper portion of the box 16 and thus Adescribes a long, gradual curve from the side of the box adjacent the hopper to a point near the other side and is then deflected inwardly toward the starting point, this being accomplished by turning the wall 25 inwardly upon itself and then bending the end ot the wall 24 in the same direction and linally turning the extremity 2A-a of this wall out-- wardly and upwardly to form a narrow or contracted throat or passage 28 between this wall and the adjacent wall of the box 16 leading to an opening 29, which communi- Cates with the suction fan 30 arranged within a casing 3l. ri"he dust duct 27 is thereby made comparative y long. t is of substantially the same transverse area from one end to the other, consequently there will be no chance for the air to expand in the duct, with the objectionable results.L

The walls are formed in smooth, continous curves and there are no sharp bends or breaks to interrupt or deflect the air currents and the dust flowing through the duct. The duct is removable from the box and hence access may be easily had to all the wearing parts i'or replacement and repairs.

lt is fastened in the box by suitable ine-ans, preierably a wedge 32, which is secured to the wall of t-he box 16. The outer block ot the duct is arranged with a similar wedge tace 32a, which engages the face et' the wedge 82 when the duct is dropped into place, thereby forcing the duct against the 'opposite side ot the box and clamping it securely therein, with the throat ot the duct adjacent to and above the passage 33, into which the grain is delivered by the feed roller.

A chamber Set communicates with the exit opening ot the duct and is provided. with a screw conveyer for receiving the grain and delivering it at the side ot the machine. A. detlector 3G is mounted at 37 and adapted to be raised and lowered to increase or decrease the distance between.` the detlector and the walls or the duct and hasten the delivery ot the grain to the screw vacuum created `in the dust passare.

conveyer or retard such delivery. This is indicated by the different positions of the del-lector in Figure 2, the full line position operating to deliver the grain rapidly to the screw conveyer, while the dotted line or substantially horizontal position serves to retard the grain and subject it tor a longer period to the action of the air currents. This dei'iector operated by suitable means, such as a lever 38 connected with shaft 89 on which arms L0 are mounted in position to engage the underside of the detlector and litt it to its dotted line position.

lThe casing of the screw conveyer preter-l ably comprises a wall al enclosing one end and the middle portion or the conveyer, while the other end has a casting 42 secured by bolts 43 or other suitable means to the wall oit the machine and having a bearing le for one end ot the screw. r)The other end ot the screw nas a bearing 45 fromk which the screw may be readily removed when the casting Ll2 is detached `trom the casing. rlhe usual driving sprocket 46 is provided on one end of the screw. This manner oit' mounting the ser w conveyer allows convenient separation oli' the parts: `tor cleaning, examination or repairs, it only being necessary to .loosen the securing bolts and draw the screw conveyer entirely out ot its bearings in the machine. f

When the suction vtan is in operation, 'a vacuum will. be created in the duct and air currents will rush up the passage B3 and into the duct and to regulate the flow ot such currents, l provide gate 4.7, hinged at t8 and operated by n nsko'li a rod 4:9 having a spr ng 50 and a thumb nut 5l engaging the threaded end ot the rod and byiiniean's et which the gate may be adjusted ant yieldingly held to control the How of air currents upwardly past the reed roller and through the material and into the dust duct. A clip 25a is mounted on the wall 25 to slide on the plate 8 to which the gate i? is connected.

lt will be understood :trom the 'foregoing that when the suction fan is operated, a vacuum will be created in the dust passage and the currents ot air, carrying themlighter particles ot grain and dust` will pass up into this dust passage and ltlow upwardly and downwardly therein witl'iout expanding and iinally will precipitate the heavier material into the screw convcyer as the air expands after leaving the compa ratively confined area ot the dust passage. The degree oit suction et 'this passage may be regulated by the adjustment ot the shutters in the top of the bex. rlhese shutters may be opened when air will enter between them and flow directly to the tan, and there `will be no t The shutters may be entirely closed an... thereupon a strong sucticu will be created in the llt) dust lpassag're and the dust and lighter particles of grain will be lifted out of the stream as it flows over the feed roller. After the lighter grain passes through the dust passage, it will be deposited by gravity' in` of this deflector, the character of the ma,

terial delivered to the screw conveyer may be regulated.

Communicating with the fan casing is a discharge pipe 52. Whenever desired, the shutters inthe top of the duct box may be adjusted to control the flow of air through the duct, reducing the power of the suction and regulating perfectly the weight of material drawn into the dust duct without reducing the volume of air admitted to the fan and the discharge pipe, this volume being continuous and uninterrupted, and preventing clogging in the discharge pipe. In operation, therefore, the simple adjustment of the shutter above the dust duct regulates the degree of suction and makes it unnecessary to change the adjustment of the gate 47 when it is desired to aifect the volume of air passing through the discharge pipe.

At one side of the machine casing 1 provide a repeat elevator 53 having a spout 54k which delivers the repeat material to the .repeat hopper 3. From thence the material passes by the division board 6 to the feed roll, is mixed with the material from the main hopper, and again subjected to air suction. A more effectual cleaning and separation of the grain' is thereby obtained. Generally in machines of this type, the repeat is delivered directly to the sieves, but in my improved construction a separate compartment is provided in the hopper for the repeat, provision being made for regulating its volume of feed to mingle with the other grain and the repeat is subjected to the action of the suction fan a second time. l/Vhenever desired, in the operation of the machine, the shutters above the dust duct may vbe opened so that practically all the air entering' will flow past these shutters to the fan and the suction .and vacuum in the dust duct will be destroyed, or whenever desired, the degree of this suction may be instantly controlled by the adjustment of the shutters.

Opposite the sieves l0 is the usual blast fan and below the sieves are the usual screens :36 and 5T arranged to deliver macontinuous. rThere being no sharp corners nor bends in thev duct, the flow will beuninterrupted and make for greater efficiency of the machine. There being no fluctuations in the flow, there will be no danger vof clogging in the discharge pipe, which frequently happens where the currents of air are interl mittent or irregular. Cleaning and replacing of the parts of the dust duct can be readily accomplished, as the manner of mounting` permits the convenient separation of the dust duct from the machine, allowing not only access to the walls of the duct, but also exposing the regulating deflector or blade and the screw conveyer and feed roll.

The dimensions of the dust duct and the details of construction thereof may, of course, be modified materially and still be within the scope of my invention.

l claim as my invention:

1. A grain separating machine having a hopper provided with a chamber for the main feed and a chamber for the repeat material, with means Vfor `delivering the repeat to said repeat chamber, and means for regulating the mixture of the material in the main feed chamber with the repeat material.

2. In a grain separating machine, a hopper having a partition dividing it into a main feed chamber and a repeat feed chamber, a division board mounted to regulate the ow from either of said chambers, and a repeat elevator arranged to deliver the repeat ma teria-l to its chamber in said hopper. j

3. .ln a grain separating machine, a hopper, a partition wall therein dividing the hopper intola main feed chamber and a repeat chamber, a division board hinged tb the lower end of saidpartition wall and arranged to shut off the flow vof material wholly or partially from each ofsaid chambers, and, means for 'delivering the repeat material to said repeat chambe .n

el. ln a grain cleaning machine, a feed hopper having a dischargethroat,a suction fan and discharge pipe therefor, and a i tortuous dust duct interposed between said fan and hopper throat for conducting the dust from said throat to said fan, and said duct being mounted for removal for replacenient or repairs.

5. In a grain cleaning machine., a feedt hopper havingk a discharge throat, asuetion fan, a box arranged between saidffan and throat, and a dust duct removably fitting within said box and communicating with said throat and with said fan.

6. ln a grainA cleaning machine.l a feed hopper having a discharge throat. a suction fan, a box arranged between said fan and throat. and a dust duct removably fitting within said box and con'nnunicating with said throat and with said fan, said duct being composed of blocks alternating with curved sheets and means passing` through said blocks and sheets for securing them together.

7. in a `grain cleaning.;` machine, a tee/t hopper having a discharge throat, a suction fan, a dust duct communicating With said throat and With said ian, said duct being' of substantially uniform cross sectional area "Loin the intake to the exhaust thereof.

8. in a grain cleaning machine, a 'leed hopper having' discharge throat, a suction ian, a dust duct interposed between said throat and 'tan and communicating' therewith, aid duct being ot substantially the same cross sectional area from end to end and having' curved smooth surfaces substantially continuous and unbroken, tor the purpose specified.

9. lin lgrain cleaning machine, a hopper having a discharge throat, a suction fan, a dust duct interposed between said ian and throat and having a substantially straight entrance, avcurved middle portion, and a discharge end that is extended inwardly toward the entrance terminating in an orifice leading to said tan, the passage through said duct being` unobstructed and of substantially uniform cross sectional area trom end to end.

l0, ln a 0'rain cleaninry machine` a teed hopper in fing a discharge throat, a toed roll adjacent said throat, a suction tan, a dust duct interposed between said 'tan and throat and havin y; a tortuous passage oiE uni- 'lform cross sectional area, wherein a vacuum created by the operation ot said fan, a grate adjacent said feed roll 'for i'euld'ing;` the iloiv oil to said air duct, p st said throat, and means 'for introducing' air to said ian independently oi? said duct.

ll.. lnr a tgrain cleaning' machine, a feed hopper having a discharge throat, a suction tan, a dustI box between said 'tan and throat, a dust duct mounted in said bof: and coni.- rnimicatinggj with throat and 'with said n, and wherein a vaciunn is created byl the eration or" said fan, a gate tor regulating the flow of air to said duct past said throat, and means for admitting' air to said box outside of said duct for regulating' the deet suction in said duct.

i2, in a ,drain cleaning' machine, ieed ioppcr having' a discharge throat, a suction fan. dust boi: between said 'tan and throat. a dust duct mounted in said box and coinnuinieating with said throat and with said fain and n'hcrein a vacuum is created by "1e operation or' said tan, a gate for reajuvting the 'lioiv oi air to saitL duct past said iroap. and shutters mounted in the Wall oi? 'for admitting' air to said 'ian outaid boni said o. .ct and controlling' the degree ot snutters .mounted in said 'trame for admit-r ting air to said tan'outside said duct and regulating the degree of suction in said duct.

ll. a grain separating machine, feed hopper having` a discharge throat, a suction lian, a. dust duct interposed between said tan and throat a u wherein a vacuum is created by the operation oi said fan, a conveyer arranged beneath the exit oi' said duct to receive the material precipitated thereby, and a deliector mounted above said conveyer for controlling the delivery oic the material from said duct to said conveyer.

l5. ln a grain cleaning machine, a feed hopper having' discharge throat, a suction fan, a. dust duct comniunicatingat one end with said thro-at and at the other end with said fan, a conveyer arranged beneath the discharge opening' oi: said duct to receive the material precipitated therefrom, there bel'- a passage termed between said conveyer and duc', leading to said fan, and a detiector comprising a plate mounted above said conveyor and a inea-netter tilting' said detiectoi' o hasten the delivery of t-he material troni said duct to said conveyer or retard such delivery and contract the passage loffidinp; 'from said ductI to said ian.

lh.. ln a ,grain cleaning' machine, a feed hopper having' a discharge throat, a suction ihn. al dust box having an air intake, a` dust duct having' a tortuous passage removably .mounted in said box and communicating; with said throat and with said tan and in which duct a. vacuum is created by the oper- .ation ot said ian.

1T. a grain cleaning,` machine, Jfeed hopper having' a discharge throat, a suction fan, a dust box, a dustl duct having a tortuous passage removably mounted in said box and coiunninicating' with said throat and With said .tan and in Which duct a vacuum is created by the operation oit said fan, and

means for admitting; air to said box outside the Walls of said duct.

iS. .ln a grain cleaning` machine, a feed hopper having; a discharge throat a suction tan, a dust box. a dust duct having a tortuous passage removably mounted in said box and communicating' with said throat and with said 'tan and in which duct a vacuum is created by the operation oii said tan. and shutt -rs 'mounted in said box 'tor' au., lttingg air to said tan and box.

19. In a grain cleaning' machine, a feed hopper having' a discharge throat. suction 'fan and dust box interposed between said and throat, a dust duct mounted in said TLA/tane@ y box and communicating with seid throat and fan and whereln e Vacuum 1s created by the operatlon of sind tan, and means for oontrollng the degree of Suction through seid duet.

.20. In a grain cleaning machine, a feed hopper' having a discharge throat, a suction fan, a. dust box between said fan and throat, u dust duct removably mounted n seid box communicating Wthsad fan and means fory regulatlng the flow of au' through send duet.

ln Witness whereof, l have hereunto set 15 my hand this Q/Yth' day of July, 1921. y ANDREW V. CLELAND.' 

